Nemechek Leads HMS in First Indy Practice

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 2, 2002) -- Driving the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevy, Joe Nemechek posted the quickest lap of any Hendrick Motorsports driver in Friday’s Brickyard 400 pre-qualifying practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Nemechek was 16th-fastest in the two-hour session with a time of 50.127 seconds and a 179.544-mph speed. Defending NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was next in the Hendrick stable, coming in at 27th overall with a time of 50.419 seconds and a 178.504-mph speed in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet. In the No. 5 Kellogg’s Monte Carlo, two-time champion Terry Labonte was 34th-quick at 50.567 seconds and 177.982 mph. Rookie Jimmie Johnson was 41st in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy with a fast lap of 50.896 seconds and 176.831 mph. Kurt Busch paced the practice session, posting a time of 49.523 seconds and a 181.734-mph speed. Brickyard 400 qualifying, scheduled for 11:05 a.m. EDT on Saturday, will be followed by two 45-minute practice sessions in the afternoon. Qualifying will be carried on TNT and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network, while the final “Happy Hour” practice will be televised on the Speed Channel at 6 p.m. EDT (tape-delayed).